How to Buy Best Stand Mixer – Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
Whether you are starting out as a rookie in the kitchen or a pro, you need a dependable stand mixer to help you with your prep tasks. You may presently have a hand mixer and it is ideal for those light jobs mixing small batches and great for that quick whip of egg whites. However, with a stand mixer, you can do from light to heavier chores in your kitchen.
Top Stand Mixers – Professional Stand Mixers – KitchenAid
The only thing that you may be facing is how to buy the best stand mixer. With our ultimate buyer’s guide, we are going to help you make the right choice!
What You Need to Consider
A hand mixer may cost less than the stand mixer but gives you limited use. While with the best stand mixer in your kitchen it gives, you more than just limited use it is a workhorse when it comes to mixing ingredients, whisking egg whites, and kneading dough for bread.
Furthermore, with the stand mixer you can save time while making different recipes simultaneously and become better at your baking, making you the talk of any event or family gathering. Once you have your own kitchen mixer you will think back how you did not get one earlier.
Check this: Top 5 Kitchenaid Stand Mixers Reviews
There are two categories of bakers when buying a stand mixer and they are as follows:
- Are you a newcomer to buying a kitchen mixer and unsure what to buy,
- Alternatively, are you in need of replacing your old one with a new one?
No matter in which category you fall with our buyers guide on stand mixers you will gain more detail when choosing your own kitchen mixer.
How to Buy Best Stand Mixer?
Contents
You know that you want to buy yourself a stand mixer, but which one should you chooses – let us look!
A stand mixer as you know makes your mixing tasks easier and helps to make the baking time quicker and simpler. These days you can knead dough for bread and even pizza dough with this appliance. The stand mixer comes with a large mixing bowl and you receive the standard attachments included, each one designed for a specific need.
They are stationary and you can leave it standing on the kitchen counter and add your ingredients to it. In addition, they are great when you need to add ingredients to a mixture while it’s working. When buying a stand mixer always makes sure that, you do have the space to leave it standing or that it will fit in under a cupboard. If you do not have space make sure that, they are not too heavy to move around and that you can store them away easily.
The benefits of having a stand mixer:
- They work faster than a hand mixer and are more powerful,
- They mix faster and thoroughly,
- They are stationary and you can immediately start mixing the ingredients,
- They come with different attachments and you can buy additional ones extra, and
- Some stand mixers have attachments to make juice, ice cream, mill grain, pasta and more
Check this: Best Cuisinart Stand Mixer Reviews
Always keep in mind that stand mixers cost much more than the hand mixer and they do take up loads of counter space. Some of them are even a pain to clean.
Consider the Following Factors when Buying Your Stand Mixer:
Cooking needs – before buying a stand mixer, consider your cooking needs and what you want to use your stand mixer for – how much baking are you presently doing or do you only bake occasionally? If you do not bake a lot a hand mixer may be your best option as they are cheaper. However, if you bake bread on a daily basis the stand mixer is what you need.
The price range – if you are ready to invest in one of the best stand mixer models you can expect to pay from $200 and up. Some commercial models available will cost you more than a thousand USD. However, for your home purpose use, you do not need a commercial one as they are designed for people who have bakeries or confectionery businesses. These are superb if you want to start up your own commercial business from home.
Consider the weight – as hand mixers are lighter to use a stand mixer is a bit on the heavier side. Choosing a stand mixer you should rather pick one with a heavier weight as they are sturdier when it comes to mixing. You do not want your mixer bouncing around all over the counter and still want to handle it.
Check out this: KitchenAid Professional 600 Stand Mixer Review
However, if you do not have the counter space and need to store and take out your kitchen mixer at all times, it is best to go with a model that is not difficult to lift and put down. A typical weight for a stand mixer is 20 pounds and is stable enough to handle different mixing jobs. If you do choose a lighter model you may find it moving around while mixing and will need to keep an eye on your appliance.
What speed setting does it have – there are different types of stand mixers and in general, the speeds can vary from 3 – 12-speed options. As a rule, it is best to choose one with a slow start as this helps when you add ingredients to the bowl and does not make a mess. It should also have a fast enough speed for making meringue types of recipes. In addition, if you are an ambitious baker choosing the stand mixer with more than 10 speeds pays off in the end.
Size matters – with your stand mixer you have two choices when it comes to size:
- Do you have the space available for your stand mixer, and
- How much food are you planning to make by using your stand mixer on a daily basis?
There is a wide range of sizes available and prices vary as the models go bigger in size. If you are baking often and have space, invest in a larger stand mixer, as this will most likely make your life a little easier. If you only bake for your family, a small to medium size kitchen mixer is sufficient.
Different attachment options – a stand mixer normally comes with three standard attachments. The dough hook that is used for kneading – the wire whip that helps you to whip cream, egg whites, and frosting – and the flat beater that is made for all-purpose mixing. Moreover, if you need more inspiration while making food you can buy extra attachments for different purposes such as juicing, making ice cream, stuffing sausage, strainer for fruits and vegetables, mill grains, and making pasta.
Aesthetic look – these days you can buy different color designs to fit in with your kitchen décor and the days of only white or black is outdated.
Cleaning made easier – stand mixers have different pieces you need to keep clean. You may find that some of the attachments are dishwasher safe while others are not and need hand washing. This all depends on the mixer you buy and best to read their instructions on how you should clean your stand mixer to make it last longer.
The noise level – any kitchen mixer is loud when used. If you are sensitive to noise read the different reviews available on the stand mixer you want to buy, as they can be very helpful.
Some Popular Brands of Stand Mixers
If you want the best stand mixer for your kitchen there are some dominant brands that you can consider buying. These kitchen mixers have received excellent feedback from customers who have bought and used theirs for many years.
KitchenAid – For the cream of the crop, the KitchenAid stand mixer stands out from many brands. You can buy them in different sizes and colors. You can also buy extra attachments for these mixers to create the cuisine in the comfort of your home. The models in their Artisan range are top sellers as they are easy to use and have some great features.
Cuisinart – Here you can choose from two different stand mixers, but they are the overall winner when it comes to hand mixers available in the market.
Sunbeam – Their range is popular amongst home bakers and great if you have a limited budget to work with. However, there have been minor complaints when it comes to kneading dough for bread.
Hamilton Beach – This is another great choice for those with a limited budget and the best. However, customers did recommend the higher brands if they were available on at a lower price tag such as the KitchenAid.
Our Takeaway for You
The saying what you pay is what you get still rules in the stand mixer world. If you only have simple needs with a limited budget, using an affordable stand mixer is the best choice. However, if you need to do loads of baking every day it is best to invest in the more expensive kitchen mixers available on the market designed for hard work. This is best for you in the end and worth every cent spent.
